Page 51 of Home to the Hollow

“Mow!” Jekyll agrees, as he jumps through the open window on the passenger side. Hyde follows, and Eury hovers above the roof as she waits for me to get settled and gun the engine.

It’s time to face the firing squad.

* * *

“As I was saying,Sherilynn, the programs for younger children will get registered through my studio. I will host the registration and grand opening next weekend. With the move, the beginning of the school year, and the renovation of the studio space, I could not have the sign-ups available tonight,” I explain, trying not to let my frayed nerves show.

“I should’ve known the Catastrophe wouldn’t be able to organize something as ambitious as the Council promised when we voted on your license. It’s criminal for you to tie up valuable real estate on the main strip if it’s not open for business.”

Sherilynn Foster-Grant is one of my former bullies. She’s obviously continued that pattern in her adult life. I’m not intimidated by her posturing—Mayor Cornelia inspected my progress last week, so I know she’s aware of the status of the gallery/studio.

However, Sherilynn is only one of the six parents with children in the Lower School who showed up at the high school teacher event to make their displeasure known. I’m not shocked there’s a coordinated effort to smear my name before I get started; in fact, I’m surprised I have seen none of the boys with them. There’s nothing an elite family loves more than lording their connections over anyone they consider beneath them. Lysander, Billy, and Joe should be here expressing righteous fury along with their wives.

After going to the Speakeasy, I think it’s possible Benjy has changed. I can’t resist twisting the knife a little—Sherilynn has been the nastiest so far. “Sherilynn, if Benjy would like to see the remodeling, I’d be happy to show him the progress. I know it impressed Nelia when she stopped by last week.”

Her face contorts in rage, and she goes as red as a beet. The color contrasts with her platinum locks, and for a second, I get lost in imagining a painting of a tomato with a blond wig. Her voice screeches as she glares daggers at me. “You! I never!”

I watch her stalk off with the fury of a valkyrie in puzzlement. What in the hell did I say? According to social media, she married Benjy and they have three kids. He runs the bookstore and speakeasy; she runs the bakery.

Did I miss some new rule that I can’t mention a spouse to one of these twits?

“They’re getting divorced,” a low voice murmurs in my ear.

When I turn, I see the handsome history teacher giving me a tiny grin. I don’t know how he sneaked up behind me without my noticing, but he must not be dangerous because both of my cats are still planted in the large nest with their tails flicking lazily. I narrow my eyes at Hyde and she maps as if I should understand. Putting my hand over my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose and whisper back to Hugo. “How ugly is the divorce?”

“Very,” he replies. “He filed at the courthouse yesterday and there was a screaming match in front of Edgar’s door.”

“Son of a pumpkin eating pole dancer,” I grumble. “I’llneverhear the end of this, and she’s never liked me. Any chance you have the scoop onwhythey’re splitting?”

Hugo gives me a mysterious smile. “Perhaps, but it’s not my story to tell. You know the Hollow better than I—it’ll be public news soon enough, I’m sure.”

Great. This dude is swathed in riddles every time I meet him. “If you say so. Thanks for the heads up,” I reply as I brace myself for the next wave of parents.

A small wave and a wink are my answer as he disappears. There must be a passage or crawl space or some bloody way to get in through there and I’m annoyed as hell that he knows and I don’t. I continue muttering under my breath as I shuffle papers around, vexed by men, bitchy rich women, and life.

It’s not his fault that no one is monitoring the parents coming into my room despite not having children old enough to attend this school. Every staff member Sherilynn passed in the hallway knew what she was up to, and they did nothing.

That feels familiar, and I rub my hand on my chest. Whistler’s Hollow hasn’t changed since I was a kid, and I’m disappointed. The secrets I’m hunting here are hidden—especially given the lack of detail in the town records from thirty years ago.

I can only assume that’s where the ‘takeover’ began, and it’s not long after I was born. I don’t know why my parents never talked to me about our family history or why the Hollow seems to have changed around 1990, but I can feel in my gut that I’m on to something. I may be here quite a while ferreting out the truth, and though I’m much stronger now, I can’t imagine re-living my high school years as an adult.

Girls like Sherilynn in my face will lead to terrible things; look at the idiot at Jamie’s farm. I couldn’t stop myself from putting her in her place, and I won’t be able to do that at school or at the gallery. Hopelessness overtakes me and I plop down on the beanbag next to my cats. “What if I can’t do it, guys?”

“Can’t do it? That’s not the Tilly I know.”

With an enormous sigh, I turn my head to glare at Edgar. His intrusion on my introspective moment is not only unwanted, but it exacerbates my anxiety. After all, he was part of the crew that damn near destroyed me as a teen. My hands shake a little and I turn back to Jekyll and Hyde, who are ignoring the towering ex-bully as if he’s not even in the room.

I scratch Hyde’s ears, shrugging as I murmur, “I survived this once and came out stronger, Teddy. I don’t know if I can do it again. I’ve lived a fantastic life since I left this town—jet-setting, meeting Seer, hobnobbing with kings and CEOS—none of them saw the awkward teenager who spent most of her time at home alone with a book. The men and women I was with didn’t know about the Catastrophe or how it affected me all the way through college. These people do.” I look up at him, my gaze fierce as I meet his eyes. “Youdo.”

His head drops, and he spins on his heel, whistling. Hecate and Kali come bounding in, yipping at my cats, and they jump to their feet to meet them. “Companion area. Now,” Edgar says sternly. The hounds bob their heads and trot out with my cats in tow.

I gape, my mouth hanging open like a fish on the line. Jekyll and Hyde don’t take orders from anyone but me; Wolfie has to cajole them with treats, and they ignore Seer and Prez. What the hell? “How did youdothat?” I ask as I continue to stare at the doorway. “Do you have magical powers?”

“Not exactly,” he replies, his eyes dancing as he gives me a half grin and walks over to the door. I watch him flip the sign on it to ‘In Conference’ and lock it with a click. “But I know how to give orders and everyone around me falls in line.”

My eyes narrow, and I rise to my feet. “Not me, buddy. Since high school, I take orders from no one.”

“Well, that’s the Tilly I like to see: fiery, giving me shit, and messing up the natural order of everything.”

---